CrunchPad May Get 3G

The CrunchPad may have the option of 3G wireless and ship in a few months, Singapore's Straits Times said today. The newspaper has the large, touchscreen tablet shipping in November and claims it will have not just its expected Wi-Fi but also 3G cellular Internet access. It's uncertain which format is involved and whether it will have a carrier subsidy, though an international reach may dictate HSPA data through AT&T in the US.

The preview also details other aspects of how the CrunchPad should work, mentioning that it has the 1.6GHz Atom processor and 1GB of RAM common to netbooks but that it will have a touchscreen capable of more complex gestures like swiping left or right to change pages. It's already known to have a USB port for peripherals and 4GB of built-in storage.

In spite of remaining similar to the concept, the CrunchPad's price may have increased by $100 to reach $399, putting it at the same price as a full netbook. The device potentially puts the TechCrunch-derived tablet in conflict with a rumored Apple competitor as both are expected to have a similar focus on web use. However, the CrunchPad is focused almost exclusively on the web and will boot immediately into a WebKit-based browser with just enough support to allow complex web apps and Flash video content, such as Google Docs or Hulu.

By Electronista Staff